Kajol, Karan Johar slam intolerance in India

Actor says there's "insensitivity" while filmmaker calls it a "tough country" to express one's views

Kajol and Karan Johar have become the latest Bollywood celebrities to join the ongoing debate of growing intolerance in India.

The ace actor and filmmaker spoke their heart out on the sidelines of this year's Jaipur Literature Festival.

Kajol said there was "insensitivity" in India and that people were turning oversensitive on certain issues during an interactive session with media at JLF on Saturday.

"I do believe that there is certain insensitivity in the country. We are turning oversensitive on certain issues," said the Dilwale star.

"Words are being measured. We need to watch what we say in what context."

"As public personalities, our duty is to speak well and intelligently," she added.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

Earlier, Karan also spoke at length about the present issue. He said that India is a "tough country" to express one's views with a legal sword always hanging over the neck.

In a freewheeling and frank session at the festival on Friday, Karan spoke about homosexuality in films and society, as well as of the stigma attached to it.



Talking about it, he said: "What do I say... Revealing in today's time can land you in jail. We are in a tough country to speak about your personal life and I feel really sad about it because being a public figure you are expected to helm a certain movement, talk about freedom of expression, which is the biggest joke in the world. Democracy is the second biggest joke I think."

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

“I really think how are we democratic, how is there freedom of expression? I'm a filmmaker and I'm bound by everything -- be it what I put out on celluloid or what I say in print," he said while adding that he feels that he will "always get some kind of legal notice" awaiting him.



"Everywhere I go I'm scared. I'm scared that I'm saying something in Jaipur and I don’t know who will file a case when I get home. So, I have become a FIR king with the things happening around me," said KJo.

Karan shared that there is a way out - clever use of language. “We finally won the National Anthem case that was 14 years old. I no longer have to apologise for putting National Anthem in my film in an emotional and proud manner. It's like that. We eventually have to say what we have to say so in a clever way. Language is a great thing", he said.



Last year, the intolerance debate was joined by Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan and Anupam Kher among others.